Best known as the cofounder of hair care company John Paul Mitchell Systems and high-end tequila Patrón Spirits Company, billionaire John Paul DeJoria is known the world over for his entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as his ardent stance on putting the needs of the planet first.

DeJoria, 74, has managed to build a multibillion-dollar empire while consistently ensuring that each business decision is in line with a philanthropic decision. Though he’s faced many a critic along the way, he’s shown that doing good is good for business. One such example was the sale earlier this year of Patrón to Bacardi for $5.1 billion. He owned 70% of Patrón prior to the sale and in the deal, received $3.6 billion in cash. However, he says, he had very clear stipulations before he would agree to the sale. “I would only sell under one condition: When the Bacardi deal was done, they had to agree to keep the same high standards I had.” With the distillery in Mexico, Bacardi had to agree that going forward, they’d maintain the same standards of sustainability to improve the planet and conditions for the people that work there and in surrounding areas. “Working together to help the planet and people was a part of the deal, or there’d be no deal."

He can certainly make such demands in business negotiations at this point in his career, but this has been his modus operandi from day one. At two separate times in DeJoria’s life, he was a homeless single father living out of his car. He now lives in a $50 million estate in Malibu. The one-time door-to-door shampoo and encyclopedia salesman partnered with Paul Mitchell in 1980 and the two turned $700 into what would become John Paul Mitchell Systems, one of the most profitable hair care companies in the world. Not too long after their company took off, Mitchell died of cancer and DeJoria took over. The company, which has 10-plus brands under its umbrella, is still running strong and currently estimates a $1 billion annual revenue stream.

Earlier this week, DeJoria moderated a panel at the second annual Environmental Media Association’s (EMA) Impact Summit in Beverly Hills, where he advised a room full of entrepreneurs, scientists and celebrities on “How To Make Your First Million While Being Green." After the panel discussion, we sat down, and he gave me his top five tips for anyone that wants to find success in business while also taking care of the Earth. And, he pointed out, he's 100% free of debt, so his advice is worth listening to.

1. Be Prepared For A Lot Of Rejection:

"You’ll hear the word 'no' a lot," DeJoria says. “But, you must remain enthusiastic.” He gives two examples of roadblocks he faced early on with his companies, which he refers to as ecologically friendly. He wanted to use recycled glass bottles with Patrón, but he was told it would cost more money. He concurs that yes, it did cost more. “Per bottle, it cost 1.5% more to use recycled glass," he says. "But I sold so much more in the long run because people want to be involved with products that care about the environment. And, it created a lot of jobs. The cost was so little that it didn’t make a difference and with the publicity it brought, we made 100% of that money back.”

He also insisted from day one with his hair care products that he’d absolutely never test on animals. In lieu of animal testing, he’s tested his products on himself. With his Tea Tree line of shampoos, conditioners and hairsprays, he’s maintained a carbon neutral footprint by planting trees all over the world to replace any carbon used. “When people see what you’re doing, they want to be associated with you and you end up selling more because they want to support you.”

2. Successful People Do All The Things That Unsuccessful People Don’t Want To Do:

“Don’t give up on your goals, so if that means working seven days a week, 18 hours a day, you do it. And, stick to your beliefs," he adds. "I got a lot of flack for not testing on animals. My competitors would say people shouldn’t buy my products, that they weren’t safe."

He also says to speak up when you see something that you feel is wrong. "I saw one company I worked for testing on Marmoset monkeys and I asked what that had to do with human hair? I was fired. Testing on animals is cruel and a huge waste of money. And, guess what? Ten years later most of my competitors followed suit.”

3. Be Sure In Your Company Literature To Have A Section That Explains How Your Company Has Changed The Planet On Behalf Of Your Customers:

With Patrón, DeJoria employed well over 1,000 locals in Mexico. The company has always supported the local economy in several ways, including education and homes for orphanages. Early in the company’s growth, Patrón grossed $1 million a month and every year since it’s doubled from the previous year. DeJoria invested millions into the care of the facility where the tequila is made, and he insisted the company would never pollute the land. As a part of the sale to Bacardi, this practice remains. As an example, he explains that through the distilling process, there's waste. “Many dump the waste in rivers and into the ground. We turn it into organic fertilizer and we give it away for free.”

He lists a few simple ways business owners can do their part: Use energy efficient light bulbs, have lighting that automatically goes on and off when people enter and leave a room and use recyclable packaging for your products. “Your customers will love it! And, in many cases, it doesn’t cost more money.”

4. Regularly Check To See How You Can Lower Your Energy Footprint Even More:

DeJoria regularly hires consultants to help him run his various businesses more efficiently and this, he explains, saves him money overall. "With my 175,000 square foot main warehouse in Santa Clarita, CA, I've found a way to go 100% solar. We have no energy bills."

Back in 2008, he found a way to save 25% on the utility bills with simple things like automatic lights, energy efficient light bulbs and turning the heat and air conditioners up or down one degree. "No one notices one degree, but that one modification can end up saving you thousands of dollars a month. As of 2015 to today, the energy bills at the warehouse are zero with solar energy."

5. People Like To Be A Part Of Something That’s Changing The World, So Do Your Part:

Traffic congestion costs this country more than $160 billion a year. DeJoria has the answer for that: Carpooling. He pays for the gas of his employees that carpool to work. “By saving our employees money, we make money. Employee turnover is very costly to a company and if you keep your employees happy, they stay.”

Over the 38 years of Paul Mitchell Systems, he’s expanded into 103 countries. “Our turnover is less than 100 people and only two have retired.” He has thousands of employees worldwide and to keep them happy, he also provides meals for them during their shifts.

In conclusion, though DeJoria has always believed in acting responsibly as far as the planet goes, there's been a noticeable global shift that's resonated with corporate America and consumers alike. People want to support companies that care about their carbon footprint. Corporations are well aware that if they want to be a global leader, they have to take sustainability into account and brands have to show authenticity and transparency.

“At the end of the day, people want to feel like they’re a part of something good and they’ll support you if they believe in what you’re doing. They’ll buy your product over others if they agree with your message,” says DeJoria.

I have worked for several years as a freelance journalist covering breaking news with Reuters and entertainment-related stories with Variety. I am excited to now be a regular Contributor with Forbes covering film, television and music. I look forward to learning, and writing...